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GamerSushi Asks: The Perfect Score?

I’m constantly annoyed by the endless debate about giving a game a perfect 10/10. In my mind, there is no such thing as a perfect game, but it’s still alright to give a game a perfect score. Basically, this means you believe that the game is as close as it can get, for its time, to the gaming nirvana, so to speak.

To be honest, there are only a couple of these per generation, though video game publications like to give 10’s out left and right these days. And that’s what really annoys me.

So here comes GameDaily, who recently went back and re-scored several games that it gave 10/10, saying that these titles don’t deserve quite as much praise as they were once given.

While some people might find this annoying, I find it semi-refreshing. I hate how games are given perfect scores and declared “best game ever”. And looking at the list, they must have smoking crack on a few of those reviews. I think it’s a little shady that these guys are waiting so long to go back and make things right, but it’s better than IGN, who dish out 9.5’s and above like lollipops.

So what do you guys think about the “perfect score” debate? Do you find that games are graded too highly these days? What games would you give a perfect score? And also, is it fair or foul for GameDaily to be changing their mind after the fact? Is it commendable or does it show they had no business reviewing the game in the first place?

17 thoughts on “GamerSushi Asks: The Perfect Score?”

What’s that, GamesDaily? You want to eat your cake too? Sorry, but I think it’s unprofessional for any journalistic website (even games journalism) to redact something it has seen fit to print. (or upload)

Stick to your guns, folks. If you gave Call of Duty 3 a 10, stand by it. Sure, you may think it’s a bad idea now, but at the time, well…

I don’t think there is such thing as a “perfect game”, which is why review scores are inherently misleading. Letters are better than numbers, because there’s at least a little ambiguity there. An “A” is a very good game for example, but you can debate what an “A” means exactly. A lot of games are graded too high these days, but it all comes down to a matter of opinion.

For example, I’m not a huge fan of Left 4 Dead, but I’d still give it an “A”, or recommend it to anyone who asks my opinion on it. Why? Despite it’s flaws, I can see a game that a lot of people would really enjoy playing, even if I don’t.

Like I said, it’s all a matter of opinion. At least GamesDaily came out and did a whole article on this instead of sneaking in and surreptitiously changing the scored.

Now if only gamespot would do something like this…they’ve been way too lenient on games lately. In any case, it’s perfectly fine to give a game a 10/10 when comparing it to other games, just don’t assume that that means it’s a perfect game.

My fav game is Zelda: Majora’s Mask (10/10 for me cuz its my type of game), its kinda an outsider though 🙁 . Ocarina of Time gets all the attention, though it might have been 10/10 if I had played it myself the first time (my brothers and friends have played it so many times that I know almost everything, therefore its no fun anymore :/ )

I think games should recieve two ratings: 1 at the time of its release and one three or four years later to show how well it has stood the test of time and to prove that most of these so called ‘classics’ are purely overhyped underdeveloped trash. But everywhere seems to be less strict with their scoring: even EDGE has recently gone (dare I say it) soft!

Yeah, lets not forget that these ratings come out after a few dudes sit and play the game for a while, not after hours and hours and becoming close to it. Gamespot giving GTA IV a 10/10 before it was even released? Cmon.

I have my own 10/10 games that im sure you guys wouldnt agree with, and vice versa. So what makes a perfect game?

Some of you like to blow stuff up, some of you like to be taken into a different world, some of you like great physics. Me? I like a great story, I dont care about the game play… I just played The Longest Journey 8 months ago… If you dont know what that is and call yourself a PC Gamer, seriously, play it…

but; ofcourse; point and click adventures arent for everyone ; but it will always be a 10/10 for me.

and gamespot deffinetly falls victim to the ratings based on what the company pays them.. Lets not forget about what happened when they reviewed Kane and Lynch… Ouch…

I’ve gotta disagree with you there. Bioshock had an amazing story that was masterfully crafted, and really made me think, but only the first time I played it. While it was a game that did everything right in my book, the decision of whether to harvest or save the Little Sisters just wasn’t enough to make me want to play through it again. Bioshock is like a really good mystery novel – it’s a great read the first time through, but then you can’t go through it again without knowing what’s going to happen ahead of time.